DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns
This Sapa necklace was inspired by an Anthropologie design – It’s created using wooden beads and braided fabric to create a rustic effect. Personally I would have used a more natural color for the cord but that’s my own choice. This would also be nice with fluro beads and bright fabric. Full tutorial can be found on gina-michele.com
Starting a new craft can be exciting, but it can also turn into a shopping rabbit hole very quickly. Jewelry making is no exception. One minute you are buying a packet of beads, and the next you are staring at twenty types of pliers wondering if you need all of them.
The truth is, you do not need a huge collection of tools to start making handmade jewelry. For beginner jewelry making projects like beaded necklaces, bracelets, earrings and charms, a small set of basic tools will take you a long way.
This guide covers the jewelry making tools beginners actually need, what each tool is used for, and which extras are nice to have later. It is designed for real crafters with real budgets and real drawers already full of mysterious supplies.
If you are just starting out, pair this guide with an easy project like this DIY birthstone necklace or these easy silk thread earrings.
Chain nose pliers are one of the most useful tools in jewelry making. They have flat inner jaws and tapered tips, which makes them ideal for gripping, bending and holding small findings.
Use chain nose pliers for:
If you only buy one pair of pliers to begin with, make it chain nose pliers. They are the workhorse of the jewelry making toolbox.
Round nose pliers have smooth, rounded jaws that taper to a point. They are used for making loops in wire.
Use round nose pliers for:
Round nose pliers are especially useful if you want to make earrings, pendant drops or wire-wrapped bead charms. Once you learn how to make a simple loop, a whole world of handmade jewelry opens up.
Do not use your best sewing scissors for cutting jewelry wire. I say this with the voice of experience and regret.
Jewelry cutters are designed to cut wire cleanly. Flush cutters are especially useful because they leave one side of the cut wire flatter and neater.
Use jewelry cutters for:
Keep your cutters for jewelry only. Cutting memory wire or thick hardware wire can damage delicate cutters, so check what your cutters are designed to handle.
Crimping pliers are used to close crimp beads and crimp tubes neatly. You can flatten crimps with chain nose pliers, but crimping pliers create a more rounded, professional finish.
Use crimping pliers for:
If you are only making one or two simple projects, chain nose pliers may be enough. But if you plan to make lots of necklaces or bracelets, crimping pliers are worth adding.
For more help with this technique, see our guide on using crimp beads without ruining your necklace once it is published.
A bead board is a tray with grooves that help you plan necklace and bracelet designs before stringing them. It usually has measurement marks, which makes it easier to create the right length.
Use a bead board for:
You do not absolutely need a bead board, but it is very helpful for beginners. If you do not have one, use a tea towel or felt mat on your table. The soft surface helps stop beads from escaping.
A bead mat is a soft surface used for working with beads. It stops beads from rolling and gives you a clean workspace.
Use a bead mat for:
A simple felt square or soft cloth can work if you are not ready to buy a bead mat. The important thing is to avoid working directly on a hard, shiny table, unless chasing beads across the floor is part of your fitness plan.
Bead stoppers are small spring clips that hold beads on wire while you are working. They are simple, cheap and surprisingly useful.
Use bead stoppers for:
You can use masking tape or a small binder clip instead, but bead stoppers are neater and easier to remove.
A jump ring opener is a small ring worn on your finger with grooves for opening jump rings. It is not essential, but it can make repetitive work faster.
Use a jump ring opener for:
If you make a lot of charm jewelry, this little tool is handy. If you are only starting out, two pairs of pliers will do the job.
Measuring matters in jewelry making. Necklaces, bracelets and anklets all need to fit properly.
Use measuring tools for:
A soft tape measure is especially useful because it can wrap around the wrist or neck. You can also use a ruler for straight wire and chain measurements.
Beads multiply when you are not looking. One day you have a tidy little packet of beads, and suddenly you have seed beads, clasps, charms, wire, broken necklaces and something labelled “miscellaneous sparkle.”
Good storage makes jewelry making much easier.
Useful storage options include:
Sort by bead type, colour or project. There is no perfect system, only the one you will actually use.
Along with tools, it helps to have a few basic supplies ready.
A beginner jewelry making kit might include:
If you are buying supplies for the first time, look for a basic jewelry findings kit. These are often more affordable than buying every tiny packet separately.
Some jewelry tools are useful later, but beginners do not need them immediately.
You can wait before buying:
Start with simple projects first. Once you know what type of jewelry you enjoy making, it is easier to buy the right tools.
If metal stamping appeals to you, this ImpressArt bracelet making tutorial is a fun place to see how that style of jewelry can look.
Once you have your basic jewelry tools, try projects that build your skills gradually.
Good beginner projects include:
For a simple wearable project, try this wire necklace tutorial or this DIY wrap jewelry project.
If you are keeping costs down, start with:
You can add a bead board, crimping pliers and storage boxes later.
A beginner jewelry making tool kit can be a good value if it includes decent pliers and cutters. Avoid very flimsy tools if possible, because they can make jewelry making more frustrating than it needs to be.
Do not buy every tool before making your first project. Make a simple necklace, bracelet or pair of earrings first, then see what you actually enjoy.
Some people fall in love with seed beads. Some adore wire wrapping. Some just want to make quick earrings from leftover beads. Your tool collection should grow around the kind of jewelry you actually want to make.
That is the nice thing about beginner jewelry making. You can start small, learn as you go, and still make something pretty enough to wear.